Origin

Stale ale may not have much appeal, but beer is what stale originally described—not beer that has gone off, but beer that has been standing long enough for it to clear and perhaps improve in strength. The word was applied to food from the early 16th century.

Origin

Stale ale may not have much appeal, but beer is what stale originally described—not beer that has gone off, but beer that has been standing long enough for it to clear and perhaps improve in strength. The word was applied to food from the early 16th century.